Portable surface treating apparatus

• US 8,185,995 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Original Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Inventors: Sjöberg, Göran
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Randall
• Application Number:
  US10/517,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20060010626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,283 Days
• Field of Search: 15/99, 15/51
• US Class Current: 15/99
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/14 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/292 having rotary tools A47L11/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4016 specially adapted for collecting fluids
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4044 Vacuuming or pick-up tools; Squeegees
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4047 Wound-up or endless cleaning belts
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4069 Driving or transmission means for the cleaning tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/4075 Handles; levers

Abstract

A portable surface treating apparatus includes a shaft part (12) and a frame structure (22). The shaft part (12) has a handle part (13) that is capable of guiding the apparatus on the surface to be treated. The frame structure (22) has several rolls (29, 31) about which an endless conveyor belt (27) for liquid and dirt particles is arranged. A portion of the belt between the rolls is placed such that it is mainly parallel to the surface.

Claims

1. Portable surface treating apparatus comprising:

a shaft part (12) with a handle part (13), the handle part capable of guiding the apparatus on a surface to be cleaned;

a frame structure (22) having several rolls (29, 31) about which an endless conveyor belt (27) for liquid and dirt particles is arranged, wherein a portion of the belt between the rolls (29, 21) abuts the surface and is placed such that it is mainly parallel to the surface; and

a scratching means (41) biased against the conveyor belt (27) and removing liquid and dirt particles from the belt, the scratching means comprises an L-shape having a longitudinal leg (41a) and a latitudinal leg (41c), the latitudinal leg (41c) includes at least one opening allowing for cleaning liquid (16) to be in fluid communication with a removable container part (39).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame structure comprises a mainly flat wall portion (26) that the conveyor belt (27) abuts and that is mainly parallel to the surface.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame structure is box shaped and encloses an electric motor (36) with a drive shaft (37) and a gear that transmits the driving motion of the drive shaft to at least one of the rolls (31).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame structure supports a removable container part (39) in which liquid and dirt particles are collected.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame structure (22) supports a rocker arm (52) that is provided with a roll (54) with an eccentric axis of rotation that is pressed against the conveyor belt (27), the conveyor belt rotates the roll, the rocker arm being connected to and driving a pump (45).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pump (45) is a membrane pump that is integrated with a pump housing (44) that is placed in a removable container part (39), the pump housing being provided with a liquid inlet (46) and a liquid outlet to which a check valve (47) is connected.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a filter (51) is placed immediately before the liquid inlet.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame structure comprises at least two parts (22a, 22b) that are turnable with respect to one another, wherein when the parts are aligned with one another, the at least two parts constitute a track for the conveyor belt (27), and wherein when the parts are angled with respect to one another, the conveyor belt is capable of being removed from the track.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belt comprises a support layer (27b) with an outer micro fibre layer (27a).

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removable container for cleaning liquid (16) and a removable collecting container (17) for dirty liquid, the container for cleaning liquid being connectable to a nozzle in order to directly or indirectly supply a cleaning liquid to the surface, and the removable collecting container for dirty liquid being arranged so that dirt particles and liquid removed from the belt will be brought to the removable collecting container.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scratching means (41) is rotatable about an axis that is parallel with the longitudinal leg (41a).

12. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame structure comprises at least two parts (22a, 22b) that are rotatable with respect to one another.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scratching means (41) is biased against the conveyor belt (27) by a spring plate (43).

14. Portable surface treating apparatus comprising:

a shaft part (12) with a handle part (13), the handle part capable of guiding the apparatus on a surface to be cleaned; and

a frame structure (22) having several rolls (29, 31) about which an endless conveyor belt (27) for liquid and dirt particles is arranged, wherein a portion of the belt between the rolls (29, 21) abuts the surface and is placed such that the portion is mainly parallel to the surface, and wherein the frame structure is box shaped and encloses an electric motor (36) with a drive shaft (37) and a gear that transmits the driving motion of the drive shaft to at least one of the rolls (31); and

a scratching instrument (41) having a leg (41b) biased against the conveyor belt (27) and removing liquid and dirt particles from the belt.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the frame structure comprises a mainly flat wall portion (26) that the conveyor belt (27) abuts and that is mainly parallel to the surface.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the frame structure supports a removable container part (39) in which liquid and dirt particles are collected.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the scratching instrument (41) has an L-shape and further comprises a longitudinal leg (41a), and wherein the leg (41b) biased against the conveyor belt is a latitudinal leg (41b).

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the scratching instrument (41) is rotatable about an axis that is parallel with the longitudinal leg (41a).

19. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the scratching instrument (41) comprises at least one opening in the latitudinal leg (41c) allowing for cleaning liquid (16) to be in fluid communication with a container part (39).

20. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the scratching instrument (41) is biased against the conveyor belt (27) by a spring plate (43).

21. Portable surface treating apparatus comprising:

a shaft part (12) with a handle part (13), the handle part capable of guiding the apparatus on a surface to be cleaned;

a frame structure (22) having several rolls (29, 31) about which an endless conveyor belt (27) for liquid and dirt particles is arranged and at least two parts (22a, 22b) that are rotatable with respect to one another, wherein a portion of the belt between the rolls (29, 21) abuts the surface and is placed such that it is mainly parallel to the surface; and

a scratching means (41) biased against the conveyor belt (27) and removing liquid and dirt particles from the belt.